You are a woman and you love Jesus.  You have sung in the choir and praise teams, or maybe played piano or an instrument.  You've lead a bible study or worked with teens.  You've been involved in your church as a volunteer and you are sold out to God.  The current worship pastor leaves for another church and your senior pastor talks to you about coming on staff full time.  Before you say , YES! on NO WAY!  Let me help you walk through the process of what it means to be called into full time ministry.

1.  Most importantly - is GOD calling you into full time ministry?  What evidence do you have that this is your call?  How do you feel when you sing or play for Him?  Do you love to rehearse?  Do you find yourself wanting to spend more and more time in rehearsal or listening and rehearsing music at home?  Why do you think that God might be calling you?  In the quiet times when you are meditating and praying - has God shared a glimpse of His future for you?

Ministry is one of the hardest things you will ever do - and if you truly do not feel called to staff full time ministry - don't let a needy pastor fill a slot because he needs someone fast.  

You do your own personal investigation on your knees, on your face.  Ask other people if they could see you leading worship.  And lastly does the thought of it quicken your heart with joy?  Are you scared, overwhelmed and jumping up and down with joy all at the same time?  Yeah....He's calling you :-)

2.  As you work out the specifics of how your transition into the position will take place make sure that you get some things ironed out right up front with your senior pastor and have your husband or mother or father or another church member sit with you.  Get a clear understanding of what your salary will be and what your benefits will be.  At my first church my mileage was not reimbursed, as a result I was spending quiet a bit of money on gasoline making hospital visits and it was coming right out of my own pocket.  You can deduct it on your taxes, but it still comes out of your pocket.

Find out about hours.  What is expected each week,  Are you expected to work Saturdays?  Sunday is a work day and so typically you should get a day during the week and Sat. as days off.  Make sure you are clear on hours.  Average hours are about 50 - 60 a week.

Find out what the worship budget is.  How much money do they allow you to be responsible for for ordering music, paying for music subscriptions and repair and replacement of instruments. Total miinistry expenses can expect to be about 20 - 25% of total income taken in.  If you have a $300,000 budget you can expect a share of $60,000 which would be distributed among all the ministry areas.  Be sure and ask if you have input into the budget each year.

Your cell phone, as well as mileage, hospitality, gifts and continuing education should be included.  If you are married and they offer paid health care and you don't need it - negotiate the cost it would be costing the church to carry a policy on you and ask them to put it into a tax saving plan.  You get part of the money and the church benefits by not having to pay for your family health care.

3.  Find out about vacation and try to negotiate an extra week off (paid).  It is much easier to give a staff member a week off than it is to increase their salary - and believe me, your first year you will appreciate that extra week.  I negotiated 3 weeks my first year and was so grateful for it.

4.  Be prepared to moved.  Yep.  Just because you are a worship pastor in your home church does not mean that you will stay there.  The average tenure for associate pastors is 4 - 5 years.  Your senior pastor may leave, and when they do in most districts you are required to resign.  You can be hired back by the board, but you still have to fit in with the new person.  God may have another place of ministry for you which requires a move across the country.  You must be prepared to go at any time if you are going into church ministry as a full time staff person.  If you cannot make this promise to yourself - then you need to question the move to full time staff.  I'm just trying to be real and save you some heartache later on.

5.  All churches are different but most have good intentions towards their staff.  Be friendly to all, don't show favoritism and find as many excuses to get involved in their lives as you can.  Ask them over, go to their kids recitals, ask them to lunch or coffee, or just send them a note or phone call.  People are not going to listen to you until they know you care.  So your first months will be spent in fellowship and listening.

6.  Practice how you are going to handle the tough questions.  You know the ones.  The music is too loud.  Why don't we do more hymns?  Why can't I play trumpet in the band?  My 5 year old is a genius singer, when can we get him up there?  And on and on and on.  Be prepared on how you are going to answer these kinds of questions so you don't get thrown off balance when they come at you.

7.  Whatever you do - whatever happens - don't lose your cool.  You are on the platform on a Sunday and have a major train wreck because the piano player and the drummer are playing no attention at all and have copped an attitude.  Respond in love.  Remember it takes 10 positives before you share a negative with someone. And keep things in perspective.  You felt hung out to dry and embarrassed - but most peopled don't notice much.What they will notice is how you handle the situation.

8.  Don't go in with the attitude that you are the "fixer."  Most people don't think they need fixed even if they voice that they do.  What they want to hear is how they can continue to contribute, how they aren't going on the shelf and how you are going to be a good pastor to them.

9.  Get to know your sound and tech folk and be there best friends.  If you want cooperation - they need to be a part of the team and not just the "behind the scenes folks."  It will go a long way if you are able to at least speak their language - and if you don't have a clue - ask them if they would train you - or go out on youtube and learn on your own.

10.  Always remember that your senior pastor is your leader.  He is the one to look to, to make look good, to support and to encouraged.  He was hired to be the shepherd of the church and he is hiring YOU to help him do that.  Figure out his leadership style and then do your best to compliment that.  Offer to be a part of things outside of your worship area.  Dress the stage. Work with the children's or youth's choir.  And if you are a women - JOIN THE WOMEN"S GROUP.  Whether you enjoy women's groups or you don't - you would be well favored by showing up and supporting any and all women's activities.  Women support women.  Nuff said.

Well that will give you a start if you find yourself in that position of being called by God in your local church.  Feel free to leave me a comment or question below or private message me at cwoolaway@yahoo.com.

Bless you in your search for God's Will in your life.

Cathy